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Psalm 87

87th psalm of the book of psalms

Psalm 87
Summary

87th psalm of the book of psalms

FieldValue
namePsalm 87
subtitle"His Foundation is in the Holy Mountains"
imageToegangspoort met daarboven gebeiteld de spreuk Der Herr liebet die Thore Zions, Bestanddeelnr 255-0339.jpg
image_upright1.2
captionThe German inscription on the doorpost of a building in Jerusalem (1948) "The loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" from Psalm 87:2.
other_name{{ubl
textby Korahites
languageHebrew (original)

| Psalm 86 | "Fundamenta eius in montibus sanctis" Psalm 87 is the 87th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "His foundation is in the holy mountains.". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 86. In Latin, it is known as "Fundamenta eius in montibus sanctis". It was written by the sons of Korach. It describes Jerusalem as the center of the world or the "mother of nations", where God placed the Torah.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic liturgies. Psalm 87 has been paraphrased as the hymn "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", and set to music from Baroque to contemporary and popular.

The Psalms depict a splendid vision for Jerusalem, wherein individuals from historically adversarial groups to Israel are envisioned as being metaphorically 'born in Zion.' These groups, symbolized by Rahab representing Egypt, Babylonia, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush, stand united in an unexpected reconciliation. According to O. Palmer Robertson, this portrayal signifies a remarkable strategy for conquering adversaries.

Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, civitas Dei}} ("Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.")

Commentary

The psalm is classified as one of the "Songs of Zion", looking to the future Jerusalem as the 'center of universal worship' and listing some of the surrounding nations (from which Jewish proselytes have come to the festivals) or as a 'reference to Jews who come from different countries in the dispersion'.

"Rahab" in verse 4 may refer to 'the primeval monster quelled by YHWH in ancient story' (cf. Psalm 89:10), here to represent "Egypt", whereas the 'springs' (verse 7) may symbolize "divine blessing", placing Zion as 'the source of the streams of Paradise'.

Uses

Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 86 (Psalm 87 in the Masoretic Text) is part of the twelfth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Vespers on Wednesday evenings, as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Lent, at Matins and the Ninth Hour, respectively. It is also part of the Great Hours on Christmas Eve.

Coptic Orthodox Church

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Sext.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the seventeenth day of the month.

Musical settings

The English hymn "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" by John Newton is based on Psalm 87, as also the German 1984 hymn "Alle meine Quellen entspringen in dir" by Leonore Heinzl, which quotes the end of the last verse as a refrain. It was later sung with music from Haydn's Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser (1797).

Heinrich Schütz set the psalm in a metred version in German, "Fest ist gegründet Gottes Stadt", SWV 184, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628. Marc-Antoine Charpentier set around 1680 "Fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis", H.187, for 3 voices and continuo. The first movement of Bach's cantata Ihr Tore zu Zion, BWV 193, is based on verse 2 from the psalm.

Arthur Hutchings set the text of Psalm 87 in his Her Foundations are on the Holy Hills, which is also the motto of Durham University.

The psalm is featured on the 1975 album Psalms for I by Prince Far I.

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 86.

#HebrewEnglishGreek
1(A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.) His foundation is in the holy mountains.Τοῖς υἱοῖς Κορὲ ψαλμὸς ᾠδῆς. - ΟΙ ΘΕΜΕΛΙΟΙ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι τοῖς ἁγίοις·
2The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.ἀγαπᾷ Κύριος τὰς πύλας Σιὼν ὑπὲρ πάντα τὰ σκηνώματα ᾿Ιακώβ.
3Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.δεδοξασμένα ἐλαλήθη περὶ σοῦ ἡ πόλις τοῦ Θεοῦ. (διάψαλμα).
4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.μνησθήσομαι Ῥαὰβ καὶ Βαβυλῶνος τοῖς γινώσκουσί με· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ Τύρος καὶ λαὸς τῶν Αἰθιόπων, οὗτοι ἐγενήθησαν ἐκεῖ.
5And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.μήτηρ Σιών, ἐρεῖ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἐγενήθη ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐθεμελίωσεν αὐτὴν ὁ ῞Υψιστος.
6The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.Κύριος διηγήσεται ἐν γραφῇ λαῶν καὶ ἀρχόντων τούτων τῶν γεγενημένων ἐν αὐτῇ. (διάψαλμα).
7As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.ὡς εὐφραινομένων πάντων ἡ κατοικία ἐν σοί.

Notes

References

References

  1. Parallel Latin/English Psalter, [http://medievalist.net/psalmstxt/ps86.htm Psalmus 86 (87)]. {{webarchive. link. (2017-05-07 Medievalist.)
  2. [[Jerusalem Bible]] (1966), Sub-title to Psalm 87
  3. "The Artscroll Tehillim".
  4. [[O. Palmer Robertson. Robertson, O. Palmer]] (2015). ''The Flow of the Psalms''. [[P&R Publishing]]. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-62995-133-1.
  5. Rodd, C. S.. (2007). "The Oxford Bible Commentary". Oxford University Press.
  6. The Holy Psalter, Saint Ignatius Orthodox Press, 2022
  7. "Sext". agpeya.org.
  8. Church of England, [https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/The%20Book%20of%20Common%20Prayer%201662.pdf Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter] as printed by [[John Baskerville]] in 1762, p. 262
  9. (2009-04-17). "Her Foundations Are On The Holy Hills".
  10. "Psalms – Chapter 87". Mechon Mamre.
  11. "Psalms 87 - JPS 1917". [[Sefaria.
  12. "Psalm 86 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos.
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